Targeting cancer cells without affecting normal cells poses a particular challenge. Nevertheless, the utilization of innovative nanomaterials in targeted cancer therapy has witnessed significant growth in recent years. In this study, we examined two layered carbon nanomaterials, graphene and carbon nanodiscs (CNDs), both of which possess extraordinary physicochemical and structural properties alongside their nano-scale dimensions, and explored their potential as nanocarriers for quercetin, a bioactive flavonoid known for its potent anticancer properties. Within both graphitic allotropes, oxidation results in heightened hydrophilicity and the incorporation of oxygen functionalities. These factors are of great significance for drug delivery purposes. The successful oxidation and interaction of quercetin with both graphene (GO) and CNDs (oxCNDs) have been confirmed through a range of characterization techniques, including FTIR, Raman, and XPS spectroscopy, as well as XRD and AFM. In vitro anticancer tests were conducted on both normal (NIH/3T3) and glioblastoma (U87) cells. The results revealed that the bonding of quercetin with GO and oxCNDs enhances its cytotoxic effect on cancer cells. GO-Quercetin and oxCNDs-Quercetin induced G0/G1 cell cycle arrest in U87 cells, whereas oxCNDs caused G2/M arrest, indicating a distinct mode of action. In long-term survival studies, cancer cells exhibited significantly lower viability than normal cells at all corresponding doses of GO-Quercetin and oxCNDs-Quercetin. This work leads us to conclude that the conjugation of quercetin to GO and oxCNDs shows promising potential for targeted anticancer activity. However, further research at the molecular level is necessary to substantiate our preliminary findings.

Porous carbon materials from food waste have gained growing interest worldwide for multiple applications due to their natural abundance and the sustainability of the raw materials and the cost-effective synthetic processing. Herein, orange waste-derived porous carbon (OWPC) was developed through a freeze-drying method to prevent the demolition of the original biomass structure and then was pyrolyzed to create a large number of micro, meso and macro pores. The novelty of this work lies in the fact of using the macro-channels of the orange waste in order to create a macroporous network via the freeze-drying method which remains after the pyrolysis steps and creates space for the development of different types of porous in the micro and meso scale in a controlled way. The results showed the successful preparation of a porous carbon material with a high specific surface area of 644 m² g⁻¹ without any physical or chemical activation. The material’s cytocompatibility was also investigated against a fibroblast cell line (NIH/3T3 cells). OWPC triggered a mild intracellular reactive oxygen species production without initiating apoptosis or severely affecting cell proliferation and survival. The combination of their physicochemical characteristics and high cytocompatibility renders them promising materials for further use in biomedical and pharmaceutical applications.

Boosting the photosynthetic efficiency remains a critical challenge for sustainable crop productivity. In this study, the design, synthesis, and functional evaluation of two carbon-based nanomaterials are reported: a fluorescent carbon nanoassembly (Compound 1) derived from citric acid and urea, and a cerium-incorporated variant (Compound 2) incorporating redox-active cerium oxide domains. Comprehensive characterization confirmed the formation of nanostructured materials with tunable optical properties, surface functionalities, and crystalline features. Both compounds exhibited strong UV-A absorbance and blue photoluminescence, with Compound 2 showing enhanced emission and additional red-shifted features due to cerium integration. Greenhouse trials usingRaphanus sativus as a model plant revealed significant improvements in biomass, pigment concentration, and ascorbic acid levels in the treated plants. Confocal microscopy and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry confirmed nanoparticle uptake and translocation, while flow cytometry revealed altered chloroplast fluorescence, supporting functional interaction at the organelle level. Together, these results establish carbon-based nanobionics as a promising platform for photonic enhancement of photosynthesis, offering new opportunities for advanced bioagricultural applications.

Magnetic bio-Graphene nanohybrid was synthesized via a green route using olive leaf extract and applied for the co-immobilization of cellulase and β-glucosidase, enabling continuous-flow cellulose hydrolysis.

In this study, we investigated the structural, thermal, and cytotoxic properties of Mg-Al layered double hydroxides (LDHs) intercalated with quercetin. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy confirmed the successful incorporation of quercetin into the LDH structure, while X-ray diffraction (XRD) showed an increased interlayer spacing due to quercetin intercalation. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) demonstrated greater thermal degradation in quercetin-intercalated LDHs compared to nitrate-intercalated LDHs, suggesting a higher quercetin content in the material. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) indicated morphological changes with quercetin, particularly larger surface clusters at room temperature. Cytotoxicity assays revealed that quercetin-intercalated LDHs exhibited a dose- and time-dependent reduction in cell viability, which was more pronounced at higher concentrations and longer exposure times. Quercetin alone had a stronger cytotoxic effect on NIH/3T3 cells compared with Saos-2 cells. Additionally, reactive oxygen species (ROS) assays showed distinct effects of quercetin on both cell lines. These findings highlight the potential of quercetin-LDH hybrids for biomedical applications, particularly for targeted drug delivery.